The New York Yankees have strengthened their third base position by acquiring Ryan McMahon from the Rockies.

The Yankees may have secured their starting third baseman for the next two and a half years by trading for left-handed third baseman Ryan McMahon from the Rockies, sending rookie pitcher Griffin Herring and Josh Grosz in return.

The 30-year-old McMahon, a last year's National League All-Star, leads the majors this season with 100 games started at third base, and his four above-average defensive plays rank him in the top 91% of the league. He is expected to report to the Yankees tomorrow.

Trade Details
Yankees receive: Third baseman Ryan McMahon
Rockies receive: Left-handed pitcher Griffin Herring / Right-handed pitcher Josh Grosz

McMahon fills the Yankees' most pressing need. This season, the Yankees' third basemen have posted a .645 OPS, ranking second to last in the majors at that position. He will become the seventh third baseman used by the team this season—previously, Oswald Peraza led with 48 games played. While Peraza's defense is above average, he has struggled offensively with a .147 batting average and three home runs (as of today before the game against the Phillies).

McMahon has been heating up at the plate recently, with seven hits in 24 at-bats (.292) over the last seven games, including three home runs and seven RBIs. For the season, he has a batting line of .217/.314/.403, contributing 16 home runs and 35 RBIs.

"He is an All-Star caliber third baseman with exceptional defense," said Yankees manager Aaron Boone, "Although his offense has been inconsistent this year... he can solidify third base with his defensive skills for the next few years, and we are excited about that."

The Yankees have moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to second base this month and subsequently designated infielder DJ LeMahieu for assignment, making their strengthening of third base almost certain before Thursday's trade deadline.

While trade rumors pointed towards the Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suárez, MLB insider Jon Heyman revealed that there were "significant differences" in negotiations with the Yankees, prompting them to turn to McMahon.

McMahon may not have the same power as Suárez, but he excels defensively and is under contract for $16 million over the 2026-2027 seasons (Suárez will become a free agent at the end of this season). His left-handed bat is particularly suited to the short right field dimensions of Yankee Stadium.

This will be McMahon's first time participating in a playoff environment since the 2018 NL Division Series when the Rockies lost to the Brewers. With the Yankees, he won't have to shoulder the core pressure he faced in Colorado—Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Cody Bellinger will take on that role. After the Rockies let go of Nolan Arenado, LeMahieu, and Trevor Story, McMahon struggled to carry the leadership burden, resulting in inconsistent offensive performance and a high strikeout rate.

"The pressure will be lifted off him, and he can definitely adapt to New York," said an NL insider who closely follows McMahon. "It would be surprising if he doesn't meet expectations with the Yankees. This is not just a boost for this season but also for the remaining two years of his contract."

The Yankees hope that McMahon can exceed the performance of their third base defense this season. "Analyzing his abilities, Ryan is an above-average defender. He can handle routine plays and also make spectacular ones; his glove work is undeniable," the insider added. "He has a textbook swing and the ability to hit home runs to all fields. The only concern is his slightly high strikeout rate."

"If he's batting sixth or seventh, he'll be more than comfortable."

Now the question is: what will be the Yankees' next move? Reports suggest they are interested in starting pitchers Dylan Cease from the Padres and Mitch Keller from the Pirates, both of whom could bolster a rotation plagued by injuries this season.